TBC Corporation promotes Kato to President & CEO

Sam Kato is the new president and chief executive officer of TBC Corporation, which through its companies is active in the tyre wholesale, retail and fleet/automotive service sectors throughout North America. He succeeds Laurent Bourrut, who is retiring after completing his assignment to “position the company for strategic growth amid the evolution of the tyre industry.”

TBC shares that its Board of Directors’ appointment of Kato “follows a strategic plan developed in collaboration with Bourrut,” who will remain an executive advisor to Kato and TBC.

“We are grateful for Laurent’s leadership and vision during his tenure at TBC,” says Scott Clark, member of the TBC Board of Directors. “We wish him well in his retirement and believe that the foundation he established for the company is in fact a launch pad for the future of TBC. Sam Kato has been helping steer TBC throughout this period, and we look forward to working with him to deliver our strategic objectives.”

Three decades of industry experience

For the two years prior to his appointment as president and chief executive, Kato served as TBC’s chief administrative officer. In this capacity, he maintained responsibility for legal and compliance, human resources, IT, digital, corporate strategy and communications.

Kato’s more than 30 years of automotive industry experience also includes service as a director of the TBC Corporation board from 2015 until 2018 when he was leading Sumitomo Corporation of Americas’ transportation business. He was an instrumental part of the Sumitomo leadership team that formed a strategic 50/50 joint venture with Michelin North America, Inc., in 2018 to create the current TBC Corporation.

“I am forever grateful for the time I had working alongside Laurent,” says Sam Kato. “We wish him happiness in his well-deserved retirement. I know he will be proud of all TBC will accomplish, as we execute our vision and evolve and transform the company to realize our purpose – to keep our associates, partners, customers moving on the road ahead. Laurent and I believe that this company can be the leader in every segment it serves.”

“The entire TBC team has worked hard to position the company for sustainable growth, adds Bourrut. I am humbled to have been part of developing the vision, and I could not be more pleased that Sam will lead the team forward in implementing our strategic plan. The road ahead is prosperous for TBC.”

Prior to his appointment as president and chief executive officer of TBC in 2021, Bourrut worked at Michelin for nearly 14 years in various roles of increasing responsibility culminating as executive vice president in charge of the worldwide road transport and distribution business lines, as well as operations of the European Region. He also served as a member on the Groupe Executive Committee.